General provisions

The course is part of Uppsala University's work in European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) Health and targets students at the advanced level in all disciplines.

Entry requirements

A Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen, from an internationally recognised university

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide students doing thesis projects at an advanced level with knowledge of - and insight into - how innovative processes work and how innovative thinking can be implemented in interdisciplinary teams to solve problems. The focus is on innovations that meet needs in the healthcare sector. The aim is also to offer meetings and create networks with entrepreneurs and organisations involved in innovation support.

After completing the course the student should be able to:

Understand how an innovation process can be implemented in different organisations use different tools for problem formulation and problem solving in processes of renewal and improvement explain how the possibility to solve problems and achieve goals is affected by teamwork, the composition of teams and their leadership analyse how to apply a collaborative and innovative approach to scientific research and what impact this may have for societal development, particularly in the healthcare sector.

Content

The course discusses the prerequisites to effectively and successfully run projects and solve problems in multidisciplinary teams. Different tools for problem solving processes are explained (such as the "Design Thinking" method and the "Experts in Teams" model) and project success is discussed based on group dynamics, leadership and decision making. Organisational structures within the healthcare sector and biotech and pharma companies are used as different examples of how innovative processes may work. Societal aspects of the new innovations will be discussed from an ethical perspective.

Instruction

Teaching is at quarter speed in the form of lectures, seminars and group exercises. Meetings with innovation support organisations are included.

Assessment

The course is examined through oral group presentation ("pitch"), through individual report highlighting the ongoing thesis from an 'innovation' perspective or alternatively through a report on a selected issue presented during the course.

In order to pass, active participation at seminars and group exercises is mandatory.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.